Support for office machines



Nov. 14, 1950 R. E. ANNEREN 2,529,475

SUPPORT FOR OFFICE MACHINES Filed June 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR:

Nov. 14, 1950 R. E. ANNEREN 2,529,475

SUPPORT FOR OFFICE MACHINES Filed June 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 SUPPORT FOR OFFICE: MACHINES Rolf Erik Annern, Atvidaberg, Sweden, assignor to -Aktiebolaget Facit, Atvidaberg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application June 19, 1946, Serial No. 677,773 In Sweden June 25, 1945 1 Claim. 1

It is often difficult and tiresome to move calculating machines or other oflice machines on the writing table (working table), because it is necessary for that purpose to lift the whole machine and to put it down at a new place. Such office machines are heavy and it is difficult to seize them by the hands, due to their shape.

The chief purpose of this invention is to remove such drawback and to render it possible to move such machines easily on the writing table, while nevertheless the machines stand firm and do not move, when they are operated.

Another purpose of this invention is to render it more easy for the operator to look through the registering (indicator) windows in calculating machines and the like.

Another purpose of this invention is to render it possible to adapt the machine to be used easily both by tall operators and small operators.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a side view of a calculating machine, with a mechanism in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 shows the same machine viewed from below.

Fig. 3 shows, on a larger scale and partially in section, the lower righthand part of Fig. 1, the rollers being drawn in.

Fig. 4 shows a detail view analogous to Fig. 3,

the rollers being drawn down. I

In the base plate I of the machine a stationary shaft 2 is arranged, on which a U shaped member 3 is pivoted. This 'member carries a shaft 4 on which two rollers 5 of rubber are rotatably .iournalled, one at each end of the shaft 4. When the member 3 is drawn (rocked) into the ma chine, the shaft 4 rests on two flanges or ribs 6 integral with (cast in one piece with) the base plate I. The rollers 5 are arranged at the back edge of the machine, that is most remote from the operator and the key-board. At the front edge of the machine, that is at the key-board side, fixed rubber feet 1 are arranged. During its operation, the machine rests firmly both on the rollers 5 and on the rubber feet I and cannot roll by itself on the working table, In other words, in operation the machine stands as stationarily as it would do, if it rested on four fixed rubber feet.

If the operator seizes the key protecting frame or guard rail 8, she can easily lift the front part of the machine, thus slightly rocking (tilting) the machine and now the machine rests on the table only by means of the rollers 5. It is now 2 easy for the operator to roll the machine to the desired new place on the working table, and when she releases her grip on the guard 8, the machine stands firmly at the new place.

At its both ends the U-shaped member 3 has bent flanges or legs 3a in which holes or recesses 9 are cut. Those recesses substantially have the shape of a circular sector having an outwardly directed slot 9a. Through the recesses 9 a rail ID passes, guided to rectilinear motion in its longitudinal direction on two rivets or studs on the base plate of the machine. These studs pass through oblong slots in the rail ID. A tension spring I2 is secured between said rail and the base plate I and tends to draw the rail ID to the left in Fig. 2. However, this rail has a shoulder 13 and a recess M, which normally engage the flanges 3a of the member 3 from the side.

If the operator with her left hand seizes the machine at its back edge and rocks it forwards, she can grip the shaft 4 with her right hand and rock it downwards, until the slot 9a registers with the rail ID. Then the spring !2 draws the rail H) to the left in Fig. 2, so that the higher portions (shoulders at I3 and I4) of said rail enter the slots 9a. This causes the rail to lock the member 3 in its lowermost position, so that the machine can rest on the lowered rollers 4, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, the machine now assumes a position slanting somewhat forwards, so that the operator can look more easily through its register windows. Nevertheless, the machine rests very firmly and stationarily on the writing table, but it can also easily be moved by the operator to a new place, in the manner described above.

To restore the machine to its horizontal position, the operator rocks it forwards and draws the rail ID to the right in Fig. 2, until the flanges 3a snap in at the recesses at I 3 and [4 of that rail. Now, the lifting spring (tension spring) l5 lifts the whole swingable member 3 back to its original position shown in Fig. 3.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent is:

' A device for supporting the rearward portion of a calculating machine or the like the front of which is supported on fixed feet, said device comprising in combination, a shaft extending transversely of the machine adjacent the rear edge thereof, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said shaft said arms being located one adjacent each side of the machine said arms extending rearwardly from said shaft, a second shaft extending substantially across the machine and mounted in the rearward ends of said arms, resilient means for holding said second shaft in its upper position, rollers mounted on said second shaft said rollers serving as supports for the rear of said machine, webs integral with the machine base normally resting on said second shaft so that the machine is supported at its rear in the lower of two positions, apertures in said arms, a latchv ing bar extending through said apertures, resilient means normally holding said latching bar in 10 a position to hold said arms in their lower position to thereby elevate the rear of the machine, and handle means for manual operation of said latching bar to thereby release said arms and said second shaft for return to the first men- 15 tioned position in which said webs rest against said second shaft.

ROLF ERIK ANNEREN.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,612,276 Fitz 1 Dec. 28, 1926 2,281,769 Hochriem May 5, 1942 2,311,928 Buehler Feb. 23, 1943 2,317,934 Mourey Apr. 27, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 683,259 France Feb. 25, 1930 

